Heating apparatus



(No Model.)

G. A. BARNARD.

HEATING APPARATUS. No. 375,593. Patented Dec. 27,-188'7.

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'UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcs.

GEORGE A. BARNARD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

HEATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,593, dated December27, 1887.

Application filed January 20, 1886. Serial No. 189,121. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may canon Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BARNARD,

' of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Heating Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a full,clear, and exact descriptiomwhereby anyone skilled in the art can make and use the same.

My within-described improvement relates to the class of heatingapparatus in which steam is used as the heat-carrying medium, inconnection with a circulating system of pipes and heaters; and theobject of my improvement is to provide means whereby a more perfeetcirculation throughout the system is insured and the steam used at theminimum pressure with greater economy.

My improvement consists in the combination of the steam-supply pipes,the radiators, the return-pipes, and a closed condenser, the saidreturn-pipes having a pressurereducing valve located betweenthelas't'heater of the system and the condenser; and it further consistsin an expanding chamber connected with the steam-supply pipe that has apressurereducing valvebetweenthe boiler orlikesource ofsupply and theexpanding chamber; and it further consists in details of the severalparts and their combination, as more particularly hereinafter described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the within-described apparatus in which my improvement is embodied Imake use of a closed pipe or receiver attached to the return-pipes of asteam-heating system and in which a partial vacuum is formed ina naturalmanner. The vacuum thus formed produces a draft within the whole heatingsystem connected therewith in the direction of this con densingapparatus, so that all confined air, water of condensation, and steam orvapor within the pipes or coils are caused to flow to the terminus ofthe discharge-pipes and into such a receiver; but in case this receiveris omitted in the system, then the flow will be directly into acondenser, which may be used in addition to the receiver-chamber, or thelatter may be omitted. For most heating apparatus but a few inches ofvacuum (by gage) pressure.

is needed to obtain and maintain the necessary draft to properlycirculate steam of low For small heating systems with comparativelyshort circulation an excess of vacuum would be detrimental, for bymaintaining too much vacuum the steam would be rapidly withdrawn fromthe coils and pipes and wasted by condensation in the condenser; andeven in large heating systems excessive vacuum, by reason of itscomparatively low temperature,would cause rapid condensation of steamwithin the coils and pipes by refrigeration instead of condensation byradiation, which is the desired and natural process of heating by asystem of steam-pipes.

It is necessary in a perfect working system of steam-heating pipes tomaintain full control of the steam-supply in circulation; and in orderto control this circulation and supply I make use of means forcontrolling it by the degree of vacuum maintained, which means consistof a pressurereducing valve, usually adjustable, that is placed in thevacuum-pipe between the condenser and return-pipes from the heater. Byadjusting the said reducingvalve 1 am enabled to, regulate the vacuum tobest suit the peculiar condition of each plant, and thus obtain the bestresults with great economy of steam.

Another feature of my improvement, that consists in devices for moreeconomically and effectually utilizing live steam and at less pressurein heating and drying apparatus, is effected by placing apressurereducing valve in the supply-pipe and between the source ofsupply and an expansion tank or reservoir, the whole connected with asteam-heating plant having a condensing apparatus that causes thecontinuous flow of steam through the pipes of thesystem by draft, andnot by pressure.

I am aware that it is a common practice to place a reducing-valve in asteam-supply pipe between the boiler and the heating system for thepurpose of maintaining a lower pressure of steam in the coils than iscarried in the boiler and the main supply-pipe; but this device isdefective both in efficiency and in its failure to permit an economicaluse of the steam. This is for the reason that with a reducingvalve thusplaced a sufficient volume of steam is not admitted to the pipes of theheating system after reduction of pressure to convey the required heat.

The amount of heat required in a Steam heating system may be conveyedthrough the system by the circulation of steam at a comparatively lowpressurenot exceeding three to five pounds; but when admitted, as from astreet-main, to the steam-heating plant in a building through such areducing-valve under the prior system referred to, there is not asufficient volume of steam admitted to maintain the circulationeconomically. By myimprovement in this regard the tank or reservoiraffords a sufficient volume of steam expanded therein to serve asasource of supply that fully meets the demands of the heating-plant.This volume of live steam at a low pressure and exhaust-steam (wheresuch is used) at atmos pheric pressure is both effectually andeconomically circulated throughout any system of steam-heating plant towhich my improved method of maintaining the circulation by the draftcaused by a condenser on the end of the system is used.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the figure represents asteam-heating system, and also illustrates the means and the method bywhich live steam directly from the boiler may be used, or in placethereof the exhaust steam from an engine. These and the source of supplyof steam are shown as connected to the system, but are not necessarilyintended to be used together.

In the drawings, the letter A denotes the exhaust-pipe from an engine,and A the outlet-connection therewith directly to the air, a steam-gate,a, being located in the latter and below its connection with a branchpipe, 13. The exhaustis continued by a connecting-pipe, B, leading intothe steam-reservoir or expanding chamber 0. This latter may be simply acylinder of suitable capacity as compared with the supply-pipe of thesteam-heating system to which it is connected, orit may contain anydevice that serves as a feed-water heater for the boiler. From thisreservoiraleader-pipe, D, connects it with radiators or coils E of asteam heating or drying system, the water of condensation being ledtherefrom by means of the drip or return pipes F, that lead into thereceiver G for the water of condensation. This receiver is provided witha water-gage, O, vacuum-gage L, and air-valve N, of ordinaryconstruction and arrangements. It is also connected by a pipe, J, with acondensing apparatusJ'I, that is used for forming a vacuum or aiding theformation of a vacuum in the re ceiver G. The condensing apparatus H maybe of ordinary construction, with an inlet and outlet, S and S, forinjection-water.

A reducing-valve, M, is placed in the pipe Jand on the side of thecondensing apparatus toward the return-pipes of the system, for thepurpose of controlling the draft and flow through the pipes of thesystem and the degree of vacuum at the end of the system.

A direct communication between the boiler and the receiver is formed bythe pipe K,

while the pipe K serves as a direct means of communication between thereceiver and the reservoir 0, and the latter is directly connected withthe boiler by means of the pipe P, in which is placed a reducing-valve,P. The valves 7c are placed in the pipes K and J, respectively, for thepurpose, primarily, of controlling the supply of steam for condensationand obtaining a vacuum to draft the air and water from coils of thesystem. The water that accumulates in the receiver G may be conveyeddirectly to the boiler by means of a pump to which the pipe R leads andis connected.

\Vhen my improved heating apparatus is intended to be used withexhaust-steam as the heatcarrying element, the boiler and the consuch asystem being through the pipes F to' the receiver G. The exhauststeampassing into the reservoir 0 may be used, as before stated, to heatfeedwater for a boiler, or for asimilar purpose, and from the reservoir0 it flows through the riser D, through the heating or drying system andthe return-pipes thereof to the receiver G, in which a partial vacuum ismaintained by the condensation of the steam or vapor in the condenser H,into which it flows from the connecting-pipe J. If, for any reason,thereis not enough remaining steam at the end of the system for con densing,a Vacuum may be created by the condensation of a supplemental supply ofsteam led directly from a boiler through the connecting-pipe K.

The condensing apparatus H is one in which a supply of cold water formsthe cooling element for the formation of a vacuum, the eX- istence ofwhich at the end of the system causes a circulation of steam and waterfrom the sys tem and through the whole of the connected portion oftheheating or dryingsystem through the drip or return pipes into thereceiver G. By the maintenance of a circulation in this manner theback-pressure on the engine and any waste of steam are prevented; and onthe maintenance of the vacuum the thorough circulation of the steamthrough the system depends, so that it is important that there shall. beno outlet (as is the case in my improved apparatus) from the condenserthrough which steam or vapor, as such, can pass.

In prior heating systems that in general features most nearly resemblemy within -described improvements there is, at the end of the system ofreturn pipes, located a standpipe or an equivalent outlet pipe, notintended for the passage of the water of condensation, but to be used aswhat may be properly called a vapor-exhaust pipe, and its purpose andfunction in such prior devices are to permit surplus steam or vapor toflow from the condensing tank or chamber freely to the outer air. Insuch prior devices the flow of steam through the system of pipes dependson the initial pressure in the main supplypipe.

Under certain conditions it is desirable to create andcoutinue a vacuumat the end of the system that shall draw with full power upon the saidsystem, and means are necessary for controlling the draft by the vacuum;

and this I provide by the reducing-valve M,

that is placed in the pipe J.

In the use of live steam instead of exhauststeam as a heating medium Iestablish direct communication with the apparatus above described byfirst creating a vacuum in the receiver G and condenser by opening thevalve k, so thatsteam may flow direct from the boiler to the receiver G,or through the pipes]? and K to the receiver G and condenser, until asatisfactory vacuum is establishednvhen the valves in the pipe K or Kare closed, and the steam flows through the supply-pipe P to thereservoir O, and thence through the riser D and the heating systemflowing through the drippipes F and the receiver G, and thence throughthe pipe J to the condenser H. It is obvious that the water ofcondensation and drip from the system may be returned to the boiler inany convenient way.

In case the reservoir G contains a heater for the boiler feed-water thedevice may be used as such, without using at the same time the heatingsystem, by closing the valves in the connections between the reservoirand the heating system. If desired, the receiver G and condenser H maybe used by partially opening the valve 13 to allow the escape of part ofthe steam to the atmosphere,while the balance is drawn through the pipesK and J to receiver G and condenser H, whence it may be condensed andreturned to the heater or boiler; or the valve B may be closed and acomplete vacuum forming or condensing system established.

The reducing-valve, that is placed in the supply-pipe Pand on the boilerside of the reservoir C, is used for the obvious purpose of reducing thesteam from boiler-pressure to a suitable pressure for its economical usein the heating system; but in order to do this it must first pass intothe reservoir or expanding chamber 0, so that sufficient volume of steamis assured to answer the demands caused by the continual circulationthat is maintained by the draft or pulling of the vacuum end of thesystem. The use of this reservoir or expanding chamber, in combinationwith the reducing-valve 1? thus located, forms an important feature ofmy improvement.

It will be observed that by the use of the reducing-valve adjacent tothe condenser H, I secure further and complete control of thecirculation of steam through the system, and effectually adapt myimprovement to any type of steam-heating plant.

By the term closed, as used in the following claims with reference tothe condenser, I mean to be understood as describing one in which thereis no stand-pipe, valve, vent, or

outlet of any nature thatwill serve as a means of communication with theouter air by which the steam may find exit other than after it has beencondensed into water.

I claim as my improvement- 1. In a steam-heating apparatus, incombination with a source of steam-supply, a supply-pipe, the radiators,the return-pipes, the closed tank, and the closed condensing apparatuslocated at the end of the system,whereby a vacuum is produced andmaintained at the end of the circulatory system, all substantially asdescribed.

2. In a steantheating apparatus, in combination with a source ofsteam-supply, the steam-supply pipe I, the reservoir 0, the riser D, theradiators E, the return-pipes F, the closed tank G, the pipe J,connecting said tank with the closed condenser H, the closed condenserH,and the reducing-valve M,1ocated in the pipe J, all substantially asdescribed.

3. In combination with a source of steamsupply, the steam-pipe B, thereservoir 0, the supply-pipe D, the radiators E, the returnpipes F, thereceiver G, into which the returnpipes lead, the vacuum-pipe J, thecondenser H, the pipe K, connecting the reservoir and the receiver, andthe several steam-valves in the pipes D, K, and J, all substantially asdescribed.

4. In combination with a steam-boiler, the steam-reservoir G, theconnecting-pipe P, having therein a reducing-valve, P, the steamsupplypipes, the radiators, and the returnpipes, the receiver G, into whichthe returnpipes lead, the condenser H, the vacuum-pipe J, the pipe K,connecting the boiler and the receiver, and the reducing-valve M in thevacuum-pipe, all substantially as described.

GEORGE A. BARNARD.

\Vitnesses:

W. J. MORGAN, WM. H. WEIGHTMAN.

